“10”

The situation had replayed in my mind countless times.

"9"

Adrenaline coursed through my veins. Heartbeats in my ears, teeth chattering through my skull, everything was in motion.

"8"

All second thoughts were out the door. The perfectly-calculated, pored over, theoretically sealed door.

"7"

The quill of history in the palm of my hand.

"6"

I'd already dipped it in ink.

"5"

But what would I write?

"4"

Not much longer until I would find out.

"3"

All eyes in the world, on me.

"2"

Rumbling. Shallow breaths.

"1"

Live or die?

"We have liftoff."

And then, the sky fell.

It fell forward.

It fell into me.

I fell into it.

And through it.

And out of it.

Into the abyss.

Face-to-face with the deep, dark ink of history.